Sunday 4 October 2026
Afternoon EditionRSS
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
Australia

Canberra man admits 'torture' murder of partner as DPP seeks life sentence

Adam James Britt, 41, pleaded guilty to murdering Tiffany Spence; court hears injuries covered 40 per cent of her body

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
The ACT Director of Public Prosecutions has argued a Canberra man should receive a life sentence for murdering his partner, describing the two-day attack as 'torturous'. Adam James Britt, 41, admitted in court on Tuesday that his assaults on 36-year-old Tiffany Spence equated to torture, as the sentencing hearing heard paramedics found injuries 'unlike anything they'd previously encountered'.

Britt murdered Ms Spence at their Reid unit in September 2022 over two days. A post-mortem examination revealed fractures to her ribs and lower back, as well as bruising, cuts and other injuries covering 40 per cent of her body.

At his sentencing hearing, Britt gave evidence and admitted that the attacks amounted to torture. He said he intended to 'punish her' because he was angry Ms Spence had 'lied' and 'deceived' him. When asked if he was 'in a rage', Britt answered, 'I was'.

Britt pleaded guilty to murder in February this year, three years after his arrest, on the day his two-month trial was due to begin. He said he pleaded guilty as he 'intended to at least cause serious harm', but denied he intended to kill Ms Spence.

The court heard Britt had assaulted Ms Spence twice before during their 12-month relationship. In the lead-up to her death, she had been away from the home for six days and changed her phone number.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Victoria Engel SC told the hearing Britt took photos of Ms Spence at various stages during the attacks. She suggested he took the images because he 'was intent on not letting her leave him' and wanted to show her 'how bad it would get if she left for good'. Britt denied he intended to use the photos as a future threat or warning.

The sentencing hearing continues.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The case highlights extreme domestic violence and the legal system's response to torture-like killings.
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking a life sentence, a rare move that could set a precedent for how courts treat prolonged, sadistic domestic homicides.
  • Britt's admission that the attacks constituted torture, while denying intent to kill, raises complex questions about sentencing and culpability.

Background

The murder of Tiffany Spence occurred in Canberra's inner-north suburb of Reid in September 2022. Britt and Spence had been in a relationship for about 12 months, during which Britt had previously assaulted her twice. Domestic violence remains a persistent issue in Australia, with intimate partner homicide accounting for a significant proportion of all homicides nationally. The case has drawn attention due to the severity and duration of the attack.

Key Perspectives

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Victoria Engel SC: Arguing for a life sentence, she emphasised the 'torturous nature' of the attack and suggested Britt's photographing of Spence during the assault was intended to intimidate and control her. Adam James Britt: Admitted the attacks equated to torture and said he was in a rage, but denied he intended to kill Ms Spence. He claimed he pleaded guilty to 'at least causing serious harm' and disputed the prosecution's interpretation of the photos. Critics/Skeptics: Some observers may question whether Britt's denial of intent to kill undermines the severity of his crime, or whether a life sentence is appropriate given the admitted torture and the extent of injuries.

What to Watch

  • The sentence handed down by the ACT Supreme Court, particularly whether the judge accepts the DPP's call for life imprisonment.
  • Any appeal from the defence or prosecution following the final decision.
  • Broader policy or legislative responses in the ACT regarding domestic violence sentencing.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workReport an errorSubscribe